Who would think a spider would lead to a poem about Fate? Sure, watching a spider spin a web might lead to some surmising of design in nature. But yes, Robert Frost has come to the conclusion that everything has a design, if nature does, just from witnessing a coincidental white 'snow-drop' spider trap a white moth on a white flower.
This poem came to mind after watching sci-fi fable flick 'The Adjustment Bureau' based on a Philip K Dick short story, about the struggle between freewill and predestination. Albeit, featuring a more benevolent Fate than what Frost suggests here.
Interesting.
Design - Robert Frost
I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.
What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I'd love to hear what you think! To leave a comment - comment as/sign in with your Google ID if you have one, or website or blog address, or if these don't apply, sign in as Anonymous, and leave your name if you like!